Covered stove



'KEEFE COVERED STOVE Dec. 14, 1954 Filed March 6 V INVENTOR. Jaw/e/ P 02 36/ 2 United States Patent COVERED STOVE Daniel P. OKeefe, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 6, 1950, Serial No. 147,784

4 Claims. (Cl. 126-214) This invention has to do with a covered stove, it being a general object of the invention to provide a simple, practical, improved construction for a stove wherein there is a boX-like body and a pivoted sectional top operable between a position where it covers the body and a position where it is up with one section forming a shelf above the top.

This invention is concerned with that general type of stove construction practical for domestic cooking ranges and wherein there is a box-like body with a top bearing burners of various types and where a sectional cover is pivoted to the body adjacent a portion thereof which is in the nature of a guard projecting up at the rear of the body. The cover has front and rear sections which, when down, are in a common plane and cover the top of the stove, and when up are positioned with the rear section vertically disposed and adiacent the guard while the upper section is horizontally disposed well above the top of the body forming a shelf. The present invention is primarily concerned with structure servlng to releasablv maintain the cover in the up position.

The construction provided by the present invention is a lock means characterized by retractible bolts, there being bolts at the end portions of the cover preferably carried by the front section of the cover, which bolts are shiftable between a retracted position where they are completely beneath the front section and do not interfere with arranging the sections in the closed positlon, and an extended or operating position where they pro ect a substantial distance from the rear edge of the front section to extend rearwardly over and beyond the upper edge of the rear section to engage and latch with the guard. It is preferred to provide the guard with openlngs that receive the lock bolts. The openings may be provided in keepers or striker plates which are carried by or made a part of the guard, and the bolts may have lugs pro ecting therefrom which latch with the keepers or striker plates. The invention provides a slngle manually operated means for actuating the bolts simultaneously. Tins means may involve a single central plvoted operating lever located beneath the front section of the cover and may be confined to the under side of that sect1on or may have a portion projecting at the exterlor of that section for convenient operation. Links are p1voted to the operating lever and are connected to the bolts through bell cranks, the links and bell cranks as well'as guide means carrying the bolts being confined to the under side of the front section of the cover.

A general object of the invention 1s to prov1de a structure of the general character referred to lncludmg a plurality of latch or lock bolts for couplmg the front section of the cover with the guard pro ecting from the body, which bolts are operable by means of a single manually operated lever.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of the general character referred to in which the operating lever is located so that It is convenient and accessible and has such mechamcal advantage over the bolts as to make operation of the structure simple and i further obiect of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the general character referred to which can be easily and economically manufactured with all of the various working parts, save the pro ecting portlons of the bolts, entirely beneath the front section of the cover where they are concealed from view.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a 2,696,811 Patented Dec. 14, 1954 construction of the general character referred to in which the latch or lock bolts project a substantial distance rearward from the rear edge of the front section, which portion of the front section is supported from the rear section through a hinge connection, while the projecting end portions of the bolts latch to the guard that projects from the body of the stove so that an effective and advantageous leverage action operates to maintain the front section in a horizontal position.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stove embodying the present invention showing the cover thereof in the up position where the front section of the cover is elevated above the top of the stove body and is horizontally disposed to form a shelf. Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. l with certain parts broken away to show details of construction. Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2. illustrating the cover down to conceal the top of the body of the stove. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the structure, being an enlarged view taken in the general direction indicated by the arrows 44 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 55 on Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 4, showing the lock bolt in a retracted position.

The present invention is applicable, generally, to stoves and is particularly practical as applied to domestic cook stoves, which are the type of structure that is illustrated in the drawings and which will be hereinafter referred to.

On the stove illustrated there is a box-like body A and a rear upwardly projecting guard B which is, in effect, a part of the body. The particular body A illustrated has a front 10, sides 11, a top 12 and a back 13. The front 10 is largely occupied by closures for the usual stove compartments and by a panel carrying suitable controls. The top is occupied largely by burner elements of various kinds.

The construction involves a and in the case illustrated the cover is of simple, sectlonal construction and involves a front section 20 and a rear section 21 pivotally connected by a suitable hinge means 22. The cover is pivotally connected to the body A or to the guard B adjacent the point where the guard connects to the body A, as by a suitable hinge means 23. The cover sections are preferably like rigid flat substantially rectangular elements that correspond in length with the body A and which, when edge to edge and in a horizontal plane, are such as to overlie and cover the top 12 of the body A, as shown in Fig. 3. The hinge means 22 pivotally connects the rear edge portion of the front section 20 to the forward edge portion of the rear section 21 so that the cover is movable to an up position, such as 18 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, where the rear section 21 .is substantially vertical and is against the front of the guard B, while the front section which is hinged to the uppermost portion of the rear section pro ects forward therefrom and is horizontally disposed to form a shelf.

The cover sections may vary widely in form and construction, it being preferred in practice that they be simple, plain and rigid units. In the case illustrated in the drawings each section has a flat plain top panel 30 and side flanges 31 depending from the sides of the longitudinal edges of the panel and end flanges 32 depending from the ends of the panel. The flanges 31 and 32 combined with the panel give the cover section a shallow shell-like cover C for the body A v formation such as is shown throughout the drawings.

where the body A connects with the guard B.

'tures that may be required or desired thereon.

ing the bolts and the lever so.

adjoin or closely approach each other when the cover is down, and are well'apart, being at substantially 90 relative to each other when the cover is up, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The hinge means 23 that connects the cover to the body of the stove connects'the rear edge'portion of the rear sec tion 21 of the cover to the corner portion of theI store particular case illustrated the hinges forming the means 23'connect to the guard B immediately above the top 12 so the cover is in'effect joined to the upper rear corner of thebody for proper hinging of the cover between the positions above described.

In the particular construction illustrated a counterbalancing means G is provided in connection w1th the cover and is shown as involving arms 40 projecting from the rearedge portion of rear section 21. of the cover through the front of the guardB and springs 41 attached to the arms 4i) and anchored to the rear portion of the body A at fixed points 42. The springs 41 are under tension and serve -to partially counteract or counterbalance the weight of the vertically moving cover construction.

The guard B, shown in the drawings as a simple rearwardly opening box-like structure that extends up from the top 12 of the body to the rear of the stove, is an element that may beemployed to carry or support various ornaments, instruments, or accessories such as clocks, controls, lights, etc. it is contemplated that the guard B shown in the drawings may be modified as to form, shape and construction so as to accommodate any suitable fea- However, such features are eliminated from the drawings as they have no direct bearing on the present invention.

The particular guard construction illustrated in the drawings involves a vertically disposed front panel 50, a horizontally projecting top flange S1 at the upper end or edge of panel 549, and vertically disposed rearwardly projecting side flanges 52 at the ends of the panel 50.

The present invention provides lock means H for releasably holding or maintaining the cover in an up position such as is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It is preferred that the working parts or mechanism involved in'the means H be wholly supported by the front section 29 of the cover and that such means be Wholly confined to the under side or bottom of the section 2t) except for the portions of the bolts which are required to project for cooperative engagement with the guard.

The supporting means H in its preferred form involves a plurality of latch or lock bolts 55, a single or common operating lever 56 and means coupling or link- The bolts when in operating position have portions projecting from the cover section 2% in such manner as to have cooperative engagement with the guard B, and in practice the guard may be provided with keepers or striker plates 53 which receive and cooperate with such portions of the bolts.

In the preferred arrangement there are two lock bolts 55 and these are located at the end portions of the cover, preferably immediately inside the end flanges 32 of the cover section 20. The bolts 55 are, in accordance with the invention, shiftable between retracted positions where they are entirely or substantially entirely beneath the cover section and operating positions where they project a substantial distance rearward from the rear edge of section 20 to engage the keeper plates 58. In the particular case illustrated the bolts are shown as simple, straight, elongate members that may be tubular in formation so that they are light, and these straight bolts are supported by guides oil so that they reciprocate and are thus movable between the positions named. The guides 54) are fixed beneath the panel 345 of cover section 20 inward of the end flanges 32 and inward of the side flange 31 at the rearmost edge of section 29. The general location of the guides is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

The bolts 55 are of substantial length and are such that when they are moved to operating position, such as is shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, they project horizontally a substantial distance rearward from the rear edge of cover section 20 to extend over and rearward beyond the upper edge of section 21;. In the particular case illustrated the bolts are such as to extend over the top flange 51 of the guard where they engage the striker or keeper plates 58 shown at the rearmost portion of the guard. In the particular case illustrated the plates 58 are fixed'on and project-somewhat upwardfrom the guard construction above described, and each has a bolt receiving opening 70 large enough to pass a bolt and the lug 71 provided on the projecting end thereof.

From the drawings it will be apparent that when the bolts are completely entered in the plates the lugs 71 occur behind the plates 58 or at the-rear sides thereof and thus prevent forward movement of the cover construction relative to the guard. To enter the bolts through the openings 70 the forward edge portion of section 20 is elevated slightly above the position shown in Fig. 2. When it is desired todisengage the bolts or the lugs of the bolts from the plates 58 the forward edge portion of the section 2% is elevated and the cover swung forward allowing the lugs 71 to pass forward through the openings 70.

The operating lever 56 is located at the under side of the cover section 20, preferably about midway between the ends of that section, and close beneath the panel 30 of that section, so that it is within. the confines ofthe flanges depending from that section. In the particular case illustrated the lever 56 is carried'on a pivot pin 8i supported by a suitable bracket 31 secured to the under side of panel 30 and the lever extends horizontally and in a general forward direction from the pivot 80. The lever 56 has a handle portion 82 beneath the-panel 30 and the lever may terminate at the handle portion 82 so that it is entirely beneath the panel. In the particular case illustrated there is an extension 83 on the handle portion that extends forward and beneath the front flange 31 and this extension has an operating knob 84 conveniently accessible at the forward edge of the cover section 20.

The coupling means 57 operatively'connects the lever 56 with the bolts 55 so that the bolts 55 are synchronously operated by means of the lever. In the preferred construction like units of the means 57 connectthe bolts with the lever 56. In the case illustrated each unit of means 57 involves a bell crank 99 connected to croperating a bolt and a link 85 connecting the bell crank withthe lever 56. The bell crank is'pivotally mounted on a vertical pivot pin 86 at the underside of the panel 30 and has an arm 87 slidably and pivotally connected at 88 to the bolt-inward of the guide 60 that supports the bolt. The other arm 89 of the bell crank-is pivotally connected to one end of the link 85, the other end of the link being pivoted at 91 to the lever 56.

It is to be observed that the two bell cranks involved in the construction are oppositely arranged, that is, one is positioned so that its arm 89 projects forwardly while the other bell crank has its arm 89 projecting rearwardly. Through this arrangement the links 85 communicate motion of lever 56 to the bolts so the bolts operate synchronously and in the same direction, that is, so they are both either retracted or extended when the lever is operated. When the lever 56 is positioned as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings both bolts are extended to be in operating position. 'When the lever 56 is swung from the position shown in Fig. 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow in that figure, the bolts are retracted. In the preferred arrangement and relationship of parts the lugs 71 of the bolts are within the flange 31 at the rear edge of cover section Zll'when the bolts are in the fully retracted position, such as is shown in Fig. 6.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention has provided a supporting means or structure for maintaining the front section of the cover in the up or horizontal position. When the supporting mechanism of the present invention is in the retracted position the bolts 55 are in and beneath the section 20 of the cover so that cover sections can be arranged edge to edge and in a common horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 3. To set the cover in the up position the parts are moved to the general position shown in Fig. 2 and the lever 56 operated to the position shown in Fig. 4, so that the bolts 55 project in a manner to be latched with the plates'58. By suitable elevation of the forward edge of the section Zil the bolts can be manipulated to pass through the openings in the plates 58 following which movement of the section 2%) to the horizontal position latches the structure in the position shown in Fig. 2. To return the cover to the down or closed position the manipulation just described is reversed. It is to be observed that the cover can be arranged in a folded position or in the extended position while the bolts are retracted. In the folded position the rear section-21 is up, as shown in Fig. 2, and the front section 20 is hinged or folded down so that it is adjacent or against the rear section.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a stove body having a guard projecting upwardly from the top at the rear thereof, a cover hinged to the body and having pivotally connected front and rear sections operating between a down position covering the top of the body and an up position where the rear section extends upwardly adjacent the guard while the front section is horizontal and extends forward from the uppermost part of the rear section, and means releasably supporting the cover in the up position including a plurality of bolts operating between retracted positions where they are confined to the cover and extended positions where they project from the cover and cooperatively engage the guard, and means simultaneously operating the bolts including, a manually operated pivoted lever, bell cranks connected to the bolts, and links connecting the lever and cranks.

2. In combination, a stove body having a guard projecting upwardly from the top at the rear thereof, a cover hinged to the body and having pivotally connected front and rear sections operating between a down position covering the top of the body and an up position where the rear section extends upwardly adjacent the guard while the front section is horizontal and extends forward from the uppermost part of the rear section, and means releasably supporting the cover in the up position including a plurality of bolts operating between retracted positions where they are confined to the cover and extended positions where they project from the cover and cooperatively engage the guard, and means simultaneously operating the bolts including, a manually operated pivoted lever, and operating connections between the lever and bolts, the lever being pivoted to the bottom of the front section and having a handle portion at the under side of the front section.

3. In combination, a stove body having a guard projecting upwardly from the top at the rear thereof, a cover hinged to the body and having pivotally connected front and rear sections operating between a down position covering the top of the body and an up position where the rear section extends upwardly adjacent the guard while the front section is horizontal and extends forward from the uppermost part of the rear section, and means releasably supporting the cover in the up position including a plurality of bolts operating between retracted positions where they are confined to the cover and extended positions where they project from the cover and cooperatively engage the guard, and means simultaneously operating the bolts including, a manually operated pivoted lever, and operating connections between the lever and bolts, the lever being pivoted to the bottom of the front section and having a handle portion forward of the front edge of the front section.

4. In combination, a stove body having a guard projecting upwardly from the top at the rear thereof, a cover hinged to the body and having pivotally connected front and rear sections operating between a down position covering the top of the body and an up position where the rear section extends upwardly adjacent the guard while the front section is horizontal and extends forward from the uppermost part of the rear section, and means releasably supporting the cover in the up position including a plurality of bolts operating between retracted positions where they are confined to the cover and extended positions where they project from the cover and cooperatively engage the guard, and means simultaneously operating the bolts including, a manually operated pivoted lever, bell cranks connected to the bolts, and links connecting the lever and cranks, the bolts, lever, cranks and links being supported beneath the front section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 701,666 Ank June 3, 1902 788,899 Grieves May 2, 1905 1,178,258 Moore Apr. 4, 1916 1,593,834 McNeal July 27, 1926 1,618,567 Brown Feb. 22, 1927 2,332,760 Smallen Oct. 26, 1943 

